Uncovering the principles of molecular design for biology, medicine and biotechnology
Our research
We are a group of energetic scientists driven to understand and improve our relationship with the natural world. Our molecule of interest, RNA, is similar to DNA, but is more versatile within the cell. We study how the structure of RNA plays a role in its cellular jobs, how cells use molecules like RNA to monitor and respond to their changing environments, and how we can use these molecules in cell-free systems to monitor our own environments for health and sustainability.
News
Northwestern University scientists sprint to develop new kind of rapid coronavirus test, Chicago Tribune
Simple test could prevent fluoride-related disease, Science Daily
Recent Publications
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Semi-automated Production of Cell-free Biosensors
D. M. Brown, D. A. Phillips, D. C. Garcia, A. Arce, T. J. Lucci, J. P. Davies Jr, J. Mangini, K. A. Rhea, C. B. Bernhards, J. R. Biondo, S. M. Blum, S. D. Cole, J. A. Lee, M. S. Lee, N. D. McDonald, B. Wang, D. L. Perdue, W. Thavarajah, A. S. Karim, M. W. Lux, M. C. Jewett, A. E. Miklos, J. B. Lucks. ACS Synthetic Biology (2025). doi: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00703
Links: Journal, BioRxivAbout
We investigated scalable manufacturing strategies for cell-free synthetic biology biosensors by implementing semi-automated assembly using the Opentrons OT-2 platform. Comparing manual and robotic workflows across colorimetric (LacZ) and fluorescent (GFP) assays, we demonstrated reliable 384-well production of fluoride-sensing biosensors with performance comparable to expected detection outcomes.
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Ultra-sensitive water contaminant detection with transcription factor interfaced microcantilevers
D. K. Agarwal, T. J. Lucci, J. K. Jung, G. S. Shekhawat, A.G. Samuel, J.F. Gaillard, J. B. Lucks, V. P. Dravid. ACS Nano (2025). doi: 10.1021/acsnano.4c17598
Links: Journal, BioRxivAbout
We developed a water quality monitoring platform that integrates biological allosteric transcription factors with DNA-coated nanomechanical microcantilevers to enable rapid, digital chemical detection. After optimizing detection of anhydrotetracycline with TetR, we applied CadC to detect Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ at concentrations as low as 2 and 1 ppb within 15 minutes, achieving enhanced sensitivity via computational modeling of aTF binding behavior.
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RNA folding kinetics control riboswitch sensitivity in vivo
D. Z. Bushhouse, J. Fu, J. B. Lucks. Nature Communications (2025). doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-55601-3
Links: Journal, PDF, BioRxivAbout
Here we determine how changes to riboswtich expression platform sequence and structure alter folding kinetics. Using the Clostridium beijerinckii pfl ZTP riboswitch as a model, we find that slowing the folding through mutations enhances riboswitch sensitivity.
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A cell-free biosensor signal amplification circuit with polymerase strand recycling
Y. Li, T. J. Lucci, M. Villarruel Dujovne, J. K. Jung, D. A. Capdevila, J. B. Lucks. Nature Chemical Biology (2025). doi: 110.1038/s41589-024-01816-w
Links: Journal, PDF, BioRxivAbout
This work develops an isothermal amplification method for cell-free biosensing utilizing nucleic acid strand displacement circuits. We use this technique to improve sensitivity for ligand detection by an allosteric transcription factor and for microRNA sensing.
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A Sensor for Detecting Aqueous Cu2+ That Functions in a Just-Add-Water Format
T. J. Lucci, A. Neufarth, J-F Gaillard, J. B. Lucks. ACS Omega (2024). doi: 10.1021/acsomega.4c08751
Links: Journal, PDFAbout
Here we developed a fast, low-cost, colorimetric sensor for detecting Cu²⁺ in drinking water that provides results in 15 minutes or less using a just-add-water format. The lyophilized sensor is field-deployable, highly selective, tunable to different concentration thresholds, and demonstrates robust performance in real water samples, offering a practical tool to help ensure safe water in line with health guidelines.